DENVER ( KDVR ) — Driving in freezing temperatures can be fraught with all sorts of challenges, including limited visibility, frosty windshields or even rapidly draining EV batteries.
Icy conditions could also cause problems for motorists during flash freezing events, when melting snow re-freezes after a sudden drop in temperature. This phenomenon can often result in the formation of black ice, which poses a real danger for even veteran winter drivers.
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How to spot black ice
According to the U.S. Forest Service , black ice is actually a misnomer, because the ice is transparent. The issue with black ice is that it forms without creating bubbles, meaning it blends in with the road and becomes hard to detect.
The U.S. Forest Service said the first step in protecting yourself from black ice is knowing when to expect it. Black ice tends to form at night and in the early morning when temperatures are at their lowest. So, when the overnight temperatures dip into the teens and even the negatives, you might want to be extra cautious.
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While black ice is virtually invisible, the Forest Service said there are some ways you can at least detect it in some lights. It appears smooth and glossy, and might stand out on an otherwise unfrozen roadway, the Forest Service says…